Eblen-Kimmel Charities Begin Heating Assistance

from staff reports

On Monday, November 3, the Eblen-Kimmel Charities, in partnership with the Buncombe County Department of Social Services, began assisting families in need of heating assistance. The heating assistance program of the Eblen-Kimmel Energy Project will make the first strike against the early cold weather to help families in need of heating assistance.

“Buncombe County DSS greatly appreciates our partnership with Eblen-Kimmel through our Crisis Intervention Program. We are working together to assure that the citizens of Buncombe County applying for Crisis Intervention Program services receive the heating assistance they need,” said Mandy Stone, Director of Buncombe County DSS.

Brian Moore, chairman of the Eblen-Kimmel Charities, added,
“When people are suffering from the cold, it doesn’t matter what time
of year it is. We don’t have the luxury to just sit back and ask, ‘What
are we going to do?’ It’s cold now, and we have a responsibility to our
community to act quickly and reach out to our neighbors in their times
of need,” he said. That is why the organization is moving ahead with
heating assistance before the CIP money is distributed.

“We are not just augmenting governmental heating assistance; we are advancing the money for the program for the time being.”

Last year, the Eblen-Kimmel Heating Assistance Program provided
67% of the area’s Crisis Intervention Program funds for heating
assistance to more than 2,000 families in our community.

Applications for assistance will be taken from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday at the charities’ office at 12 Regent Park, next
to Sam’s Club off Patton Avenue. If you are in need of assistance,
contact the Eblen-Kimmel Charities at (828) 255-3066.

If you would like to join Eblen-Kimmel and DSS in helping keep
local families warm this winter, or for more information, please
contact the Eblen-Kimmel Charities at the number above or call Bill
Murdock at (828) 242-2848.